tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post5591582248081694037..comments2024-03-11T01:39:11.362-04:00Comments on At the Scene of the Crime: What's all this, then?Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-40747701174337659782011-08-18T07:40:48.964-04:002011-08-18T07:40:48.964-04:00Ok have got it. Following your blog now.Ok have got it. Following your blog now.neerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01986509319841061021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-71466303851240540542011-08-18T02:07:17.404-04:002011-08-18T02:07:17.404-04:00Only finished reading this book yesterday. Yes, th...Only finished reading this book yesterday. Yes, the explanation at the end is so flat it quite spoilt the book for me. And the family secret was even more of a letdown. <br /><br />Incidentally, how does one follow your blog?neerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01986509319841061021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-91161200053218552142011-07-06T23:47:02.196-04:002011-07-06T23:47:02.196-04:00Glad to see I'm not the only one in the Marger...Glad to see I'm not the only one in the Margery Allingham Clubhouse! :) I must say I really, really liked her writing style, and the plot was rather complex here. Does this mean more Allingham in the future? You betcha!Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-64392435893117913452011-07-06T16:51:58.024-04:002011-07-06T16:51:58.024-04:00Well, it's you and me this time, Patrick, as I...Well, it's you and me this time, Patrick, as I'm an Allingham fan too. POLICE AT THE FUNERAL is pretty impressive, as it is her first attempt at writing a straight crime novel. THE CRIME AT BLACK DUDLEY and MYSTERY MILE were both thrillers/adventure stories. The twist is one that has been used a few times since, but was probably more revolutionary then. Allingham was great at depicting the inner workings of claustrophobic little communities, and she would return to them more than once in the future (publishing company in FLOWERS FOR THE JUDGE or professional theatrical troupe in DANCERS IN MOURNING, for instance). She could plot well, but she seemed restless in the whodunnit genre, and was always trying out different stuff. Some work better than others.<br /><br />John: I really would try some of the short stories. They are excellent.Sextonblakenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-34591882946660831352011-07-06T15:06:53.365-04:002011-07-06T15:06:53.365-04:00Well, from what I can tell, Allingham's storyt...Well, from what I can tell, Allingham's storytelling wasn't always excellent, but her writing is really good. I'd recommend her- a pity my choice of words have the opposite effect!Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-8103043629026054272011-07-06T10:30:24.174-04:002011-07-06T10:30:24.174-04:00I have a small pile of Allingham books but I only ...I have a small pile of Allingham books but I only have them because of the first edition dust jackets. When I read the phrase "an acquired taste" applied to GA detective fiction I immediately think of Gladys Mitchell and I have have very bad luck with her books. Only three of the dozen or so I have read have I enjoyed. Most are a chore to get through. This does not bode well for future reading of Allingham. Though I may try her short stories as a test run.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-4939218355831053222011-07-06T06:58:52.856-04:002011-07-06T06:58:52.856-04:00Of course I do- we're renovating the basement ...Of course I do- we're renovating the basement at the moment. But it gives me a fantastic opportunity for listening to audio books and then catching up later. The day before yesterday, for instance, I spent all day outside painting some doors. It would've been a dull day if not for a good audiobook.<br /><br />I'm not going to cry out "Infidel!" or anything of the sort, because Allingham really is an acquired taste. (Same with Gladys Mitchell.) Still, I think there's a lot about her writing to warrant further reading and expect a book report from you on the matter. ;)Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-43295895664173668312011-07-06T03:06:41.281-04:002011-07-06T03:06:41.281-04:00Your blog output is insane! Even if it's vacat...Your blog output is insane! Even if it's vacation... do you do anything else besides reading and blogging at the moment? ;D <br /><br />You still haven't enticed me to start dipping into Margery Allingham again.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.com